Elements for electric rheostats.



J. W. HOFFMAN & H. M. ROGERS. EEEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC RHEOSTATS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1911.

1,012,549. Patentgd Dec. 19, 1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CCLVWASHINGTDN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HOFFMAN AND HERBERT M. ROGERS, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN.

ELEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC RI-IEOSTATS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. HOFFMAN and HERBERT M. ROGERS, citizens of the United States, residing at Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Elements for Electric Rheostats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices intended for use in electric circuits to reduce the current from the supply circuit of relatively high voltage so as to supply translating devices that require small current.

The invention has for one of its objects to provided an element for a liquid rheostat of novel form which can be dipped into a vessel containing water or other liquid and submerged to any desired extent to reduce the current supplied from the circuit to translating devices, the device being comparat-ively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and reliable and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of manufacture consisting of two elements anchored one within the other and insulated, each element having a short length of wire whereby the device may be connected between a supply circuit and translating circuit.

lVith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of 7 parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claim appended thereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, Figurel is a perspective view of the current reducer. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding part-s in the views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the outside tubular or cylindrical element of the device which may be of any suitable conducting material, and located centrally within the same is the inner element or tube 2 which is rigid with respect to the outlet element by being preferably anchored in the latter by a mass of insulation 3 of any suitable character that is applied while in plastic condi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1911.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Serial No. 613,775.

t-ion to the two elements so as to form a combined plug and cap that closes the upper end of the device. Each element has a side opening et in which the attaching wires 5 are connected. These wires have the insulation removed from their ends and the bared portions are placed through the openings 4, bent backwardly, and twisted. The wires are attached to the elements 1 and 2 before the insulation 3 is applied, and this insulation is placed over the wires where they connect with the element, so that there is no danger of the wires becoming detached. In other words, the wires are anchored in the insulation as well as being electrically connected with the parts 1 and 2. The insulation is removed from the upper ends of the wires 7 so that they can be connected in circuit.

In use, the device is suspended in a vessel of water and current passes from one element to the other'through the intervening water and the flow of current can be varied by varying the areas of the surfaces of the elements 1 and 2 that are immersed in the water. The device is of comparatively small size so that it can be used on an ordinary supply circuit to supply a motor or other translating device of small capacity.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which we now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new, is

A device of the class described comprising an outer tubular conductor forming an electrode, an inner conductor extending longitudinally of the tubular conductor and forming a second electrode, a plastic material filling one end of the tubular electrode and in which the corresponding end of the inner electrode is embedded, said material forming an insulator between the electrodes and serving as the sole means for uniting the electrodes and maintaining them in In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WV. HOFFMAN. HERBERT M. ROGERS.

spaced relation, and conductors fastened to Witnesses: the ends of the electrodes that are united by CARRIE E. SMITH, the said material. E. O. EDGELL.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

